Wed 28 Feb 2018, 08:25 AM | Posted by Mark Langabeer
Dispatches reporter, Antony Burnett has unearthed the scandal of both pay and expenses of university heads and their management teams. Pay has been widely reported with vice-chancellors earning more than the Prime Minister. The vice-chancellor of Bath University earns close to £500,000 with free accommodation on top.
What has not been so widely reported has been the expenses claims made by many vice-chancellors and their management teams. Parallels have been made with the MPs expenses scandal that rocked the political establishment. Around £17billion is collected in student tuition fees, of which nearly £8 million is spent on expenses by University bosses.
Burnett, using Freedom of Information disclosure, found that the main areas of expense claims were travel and hospitality. He revealed that Steve West, the vice-chancellor of the University of West England, claimed £10,000 on luxury taxis. In all £161,000 was spent on travel. The reporter suggests that first class travel, 5-star hotels and fine dining are commonplace.
Vice-chancellors also receive money purchase cards that are used for non-educational purposes. Spending ranges from paintings to sticks of rock. One new chancellor claimed £1,600 for his pooch to be transported from Australia. Burnett interviewed a former vice-chancellor, Professor Roger Brown, who believed that this is a result of 30 years of government policy that has encouraged universities to become corporate entities.
Burnett also interviewed Sally Hunt, the General Secretary of the University and College Union, who pointed out that staff had only received 1% a year over the last 5 years. Vice-chancellors have often received double digit figures over the same period. Vice-chancellors’ pay is determined by remuneration committees which they attend. Hunt described this process as “your mates deciding what pay you should get”.
The Tories are under pressure over tuition fees and vice-chancellors’ pay. They have set up a body called the Office for Students which includes people from business and legal backgrounds. It also includes, non-other than old big spender, Steve West. May has already ruled out the abolition of tuition fees. This and a whole host of other reasons, holds out the prospect of a Labour Government, probably sooner than later. I think that the vice-chancellor’s expense scandal provides another powerful case for Labour to implement a programme that introduces workers’ and student control over the university sector.
